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Definition of chachalaca

chachalaca

/ˌtʃɑː.tʃəˈlɑː.kə/
cha · cha · la · ca
Plural:chachalacas
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chachalaca Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of several brownish, pheasant-like gallinaceous birds of the genus Ortalis, native to wooded habitats in the Americas from southern Texas to South America, known for their loud, raucous, and repetitive chorus of calls.

Example

"Just after sunrise, the peaceful silence of the dense scrubland was shattered by the harsh, chattering call of a plain chachalaca."

• Rhymes for chachalaca

• Nearby Words

ceviche
ceyhan
ceyx
chachalaca
chad
chaenomeles
chafewax

Word Origin & Etymology

From American Spanish 'chachalaca', derived from the Nahuatl verb 'chachalaca' meaning 'to chatter', which is strongly imitative of the bird's loud, raucous call.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chachalaca. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chachalaca
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